Short Summary

Horse and camel races, sponsored and arranged by the Jordanian Royal Racing Club, resumed on Sunday (13 June) for the first time since the commando crisis in September last year.

Description

Horse and camel races, sponsored and arranged by the Jordanian Royal Racing Club, resumed on Sunday (13 June) for the first time since the commando crisis in September last year.

Until 1967, the Royal Racing Club used to hold two sessions -- winter and summer. After the June war the Club eliminated the winter session and Jordan's racing fans had to restrict their betting to one season.

Now, the races are held once a week. The meetings attract many fans, especially foreigners. Camel races are not yet regular fixtures, although VISNEWS cameraman George Haj managed to film one event on Sunday's card.

The winning owners and trainers received trophies from the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Marshal Habes El Majali.

SYNOPSIS: Jordanian racing fans turned out in force on Sunday to watch the Amman horse and camel races...they have been resumed for the first time since the commando crisis in September last year.

The races are held just outside Amman and are sponsored and arranged by the Jordanian Royal Racing Club. Until 1967, the club held two seasons of meetings a year -- summer and winter. The winter meetings were held on the tracks near the Dead Sea, but after the June war they were eliminated. The summer meetings remained a regular fixture until the September crisis.

Another feature of Sunday's meeting was a camel race..by no means a regular event. Large crowds are attracted to watch these particular events, and the Royal Racing Club hopes to arrange more of them. Foreigners, used to the comparatively sedate horse racing, find the camels a rare attraction.

The camels are trained especially for racing by the Military Camel Corps and are made available for the occasions race meeting. The races draw the same betting odds as in norse racing.....and about the same crows reaction towards the end of the race.

Although King Hussein is the patron of the Royal Racing Club, he was unable to attend Sunday's meeting and the trophies were presented by the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Marshal Habes El Majali.